KADANT INC

5. Long-Term Obligations

Long-term obligations are as follows:

See Note 8, Fair Value Measurements and Fair Value of Financial Instruments, for the fair value information related to the Company's long-term obligations.

Revolving Credit Facility

The Company's unsecured multi-currency revolving credit facility dated as of March 1, 2017 (as amended and restated to date, the Credit Agreement) matures on September 26, 2030 and has a borrowing capacity of $750,000,000, in addition to an uncommitted, unsecured incremental borrowing facility of $200,000,000. Interest on borrowings outstanding under the Credit Agreement accrues and is payable in arrears calculated at one of the following rates selected by the Company: (i) the Base Rate, as defined, plus an applicable margin of 0.25% to 1.25%, or (ii) Eurocurrency Rate, Term SOFR, Term CORRA, AUD Rate, and RFR, as applicable and defined, plus an applicable margin of 1.25% to 2.25%. The margin is determined based upon the ratio of the Company's total debt, net of unrestricted cash up to $50,000,000, to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization as defined in the Credit Agreement. Additionally, the Credit Agreement requires the payment of a commitment fee payable in arrears on the available committed borrowing capacity under the Credit Agreement, which ranges from 0.150% to 0.350%.

Obligations under the Credit Agreement, which includes customary events of default under such financing arrangements, may be accelerated upon the occurrence of an event of default. In addition, the Credit Agreement contains negative covenants applicable to the Company and its subsidiaries, including financial covenants requiring the Company to maintain a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of 3.75 to 1, or, if the Company elects, for the quarter during which a material acquisition occurs and for the three fiscal quarters thereafter,4.25 to 1, and limitations on making certain restricted payments (including dividends and stock repurchases).

Loans under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain domestic subsidiaries of the Company.

As of April 4, 2026, the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement was $355,411,000, which included $78,411,000 of euro-denominated borrowings. The Company had $394,600,000 of committed borrowing capacity available as of April 4, 2026, which was primarily calculated by translating its foreign-denominated borrowings using the administrative agent's borrowing date foreign exchange rates, in addition to the $200,000,000 uncommitted, unsecured incremental borrowing facility. See Note 11, Subsequent Events, for details on the Company's borrowings to fund its April 2026 acquisition.

The weighted average interest rate for the outstanding balance under the Credit Agreement was 4.52% as of April 4, 2026 and 4.49% as of January 3, 2026.

Senior Promissory Notes

In 2018, the Company entered into an uncommitted, unsecured Multi-Currency Note Purchase and Private Shelf Agreement (Note Purchase Agreement). Simultaneously with the execution of the Note Purchase Agreement, the Company issued senior promissory notes (Initial Notes) in an aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000, with a per annum interest rate of 4.90% payable semiannually, and a maturity date of December 14, 2028. The Company is required to prepay a portion of the principal of the Initial Notes beginning on December 14, 2023 and each year thereafter, and may optionally prepay the principal on the Initial Notes, together with any prepayment premium, at any time in accordance with the Note Purchase Agreement. The obligations of the Initial Notes may be accelerated upon an event of default as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement, which includes customary events of default under such financing arrangements.

The Initial Notes arepari passu with the Company’s indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, and any other senior debt of the Company, subject to certain specified exceptions, and participate in a sharing agreement with respect to the obligations of the Company and its subsidiaries under the Credit Agreement. The Initial Notes are guaranteed by certain of the Company’s domestic subsidiaries.

Debt Compliance

As of April 4, 2026, the Company was in compliance with the covenants related to its debt obligations.

6. Stock-Based Compensation

The Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $2,916,000 in the first quarter of 2026 and $2,757,000 in the first quarter of 2025 within SG&A expenses in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of income. The Company recognizes compensation expense for all stock-based awards granted to employees and directors based on the grant date estimate of fair value for those awards. The fair value of RSUs is based on the grant date price of the Company's common stock, reduced by the present value of estimated dividends foregone during the requisite service period. For time-based RSUs, compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for the entire award based on the grant date fair value, and net of actual forfeitures recorded when they occur. For performance-based RSUs, compensation expense is recognized ratably over the requisite service period for each separately vesting portion of the award based on the grant date fair value, net of actual forfeitures recorded when they occur, and remeasured each reporting period until the total number of RSUs to be issued is known. Unrecognized compensation expense related to stock-based compensation totaled $17,329,000 at April 4, 2026, which will be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.0 years.

Non-Employee Director RSUs

On March 11, 2026, the Company granted an aggregate of 2,565 RSUs to its non-employee directors with an aggregate grant date fair value of $850,000. Twenty-five percent of the RSUs vest on the last day of each fiscal quarter in 2026, subject to the director's continued service through the applicable vesting date.

Performance-based RSUs

On March 10, 2026, the Company granted performance-based RSUs to certain of its officers, which represented, in aggregate, the right to receive 18,665 shares (target RSU amount), with an aggregate grant date fair value of $6,186,000. The RSUs are subject to adjustment based on the achievement of the performance measure selected for the fiscal year, which is a specified target for adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (target adjusted EBITDA) generated from operations for the fiscal year. The RSUs are adjusted by comparing the actual adjusted EBITDA for the performance period to the target adjusted EBITDA. Actual adjusted EBITDA between 50% and 100% of the target adjusted EBITDA results in an adjustment of 50% to 100% of the target RSU amount. Actual adjusted EBITDA between 100% and 115% of the target adjusted EBITDA results in an adjustment using a straight-line linear scale between 100% and 150% of the target RSU amount. Actual adjusted EBITDA in excess of 115% results in an adjustment capped at 150% of the target RSU amount. If actual adjusted EBITDA is below 50% of the target adjusted EBITDA for the 2026 fiscal year, these performance-based RSUs will be forfeited. The Company recognizes compensation expense based on the probable number of performance-based RSUs expected to vest. Following the adjustment, the performance-based RSUs will be subject to additional time-based vesting, and will vest inthree equal annual installments on March 10 of 2027, 2028, and 2029, provided that the officer is employed by the Company on the applicable vesting dates.

Time-based RSUs

On March 10, 2026, the Company granted time-based RSUs representing 13,658 shares to certain of its officers and employees with an aggregate grant date fair value of $4,526,000. These time-based RSUs vest inthree equal annual installments on March 10 of 2027, 2028, and 2029, provided that a recipient is employed by the Company on the applicable vesting dates.